George Weyham previews the 2026 Masters snooker and provides two betting selections.
The Masters
The Masters Snooker at Alexandra Palace
The Ally Pally have removed the dart boards with the rowdy drunks for the 12x6 snooker tables and a slightly mellowed audience for the Masters, the biggest and most prestigious invitational in the sport - also the 2nd triple crown of the season.
Held every year since 1975, nearly every great in the game (maybe bar Joe and Fred Davis) has lifted this title and this year’s event nine past champions are back to re-capture the Paul Hunter Trophy.
It includes the greatest of them all, eight-time champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, who had a recent change of heart on appearing for a 30th time this year. He didn’t want to let his adoring London crowd down for a second consecutive year, clearly! This could be the last we see of the Rocket in these shores until he attempts for ultimate immortality at the Worlds in April.
Shaun Murphy is back as defending champion, who did a first of his career in last year’s edition; regained a title he’s won previously. He opens his defence with debutant, Wu Yize looking to not do what he did in 2016 after his 2015 success; lose in the first round.
The Wizard of Wishaw, John Higgins is back for a record breaking 32nd time alongside his fellow ‘Class of 92’ Mark Williams returning for his 28th appearance. It’s insane how these two plus O’Sullivan stay healthy, ultra consistent and different class decade after decade. We won’t see their like ever again.
The Masters Snooker Odds
| Result | Best Odds |
|---|---|
| Judd Trump | 17/4 |
| Mark Selby | 11/2 |
| Zhao Xintong | 11/2 |
| Ronnie OSullivan | 9/1 |
| Neil Robertson | 10/1 |
Last updated on 09/01/2026 at 15:00.
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Neil Robertson Masters Odds and Case for a Third Title
Onto this year and I rate the chances of Neil Robertson to capture a third Masters crown at 9/1.
There’s a slight drawback after he was pitted in a blockbuster opening contest with O’Sullivan though I know the Aussie will relish the task in hand. There is encouragement in his recent record with the ‘Goat’, beating him in this season’s Saudi Arabia Masters final and three times in 2022. In fact, Ronnie’s last win over Robertson in a highly competitive match was the 2021 World Grand Prix Final, the day he bagged his 1000th century.
Robbo has beaten the Rocket twice in a triple crown from five meetings, both coming here; the first in 2015, where he crushed Ronnie 6-1 in the semi-final then most recently in 2022 winning 6-4 in the quarters.
Of course Robertson’s record in the event doesn’t come close to O’Sullivan’s however, he does still have a love affair with not just the event, but the venue winning here at the Palace in 2012 and 2022 plus runner-up spots in 2013 and 2015. So both times he’s beaten O’Sullivan here, it’s meant a final berth at the very least. Perhaps an omen…
The worry is O’Sullivan has only lost in three openers in his whole career in the Masters and never at Ally Pally. First time for everything? Whereas, Robertson has lost in four, all in the last six years.
I do think Ronnie’s form coming here is suspect. He was at his majestic best in the Saudi event in August, however since then has had his usual light campaign and when he has appeared, it hasn’t been for long, with the best he could muster a quarter-final at the Xi’an Grand Prix.
In my book, this is a great chance for Robertson to beat him again, and I think he’s got a fair chance of winning the quarter with two out of form players in Kyren Wilson and Si Jiahui awaiting.
A back to form Mark Selby could meet him in the semis, a round Robertson has only ever lost in once previously at Ally Pally. Robertson, who is number one ranked on the one year list, warrants to be a touch shorter in the outrights, and I think he can reign supreme in the Masters for a third time.
The Jester from Leicester, Selby is worth a mention as the general second favourite behind Trump. He won here at Ally Pally in 2013 for a third title and lost in the final a year later. In the proceedings 11 years, he’s unbelievably never gone past the quarter-final stage. That’s a big concern. That said, he had never made the final in 12 previous Champion of Champions until this season when he won it.
Zhao Xintong Masters Chances
Vying for second favouritism is World champion, Zhao Xintong and he’s my second pick in the outrights at 11/2.
This will be Zhao’s second appearance at the Masters following a first round exit in 2022 to Higgins. Even for him, it’s a big ask to have never won on this stage and become a Masters champion however, we are talking about a very special player here who blew away with the Worlds back in the spring.
Zhao is aiming to become the seventh player in history to hold the Worlds and Masters at the same time - he opens with Wallsend’s Gary Wilson who has also never won on this stage in two past outings.
Zhao has had a relatively quiet campaign with just one semi-final in a ranking event however in the non rankers he’s made two semis and won the Riyadh Season Championship in November to win a sweet £250,000.
I do believe that if Zhao plays to the top of his game, then no player will touch him in London. He is a slightly riskier proposition to Robertson as I prefer Robertson’s all round game and experience here but there’s no doubt in my mind, Zhao will relish the one table set up. He’s never lost a ranking or non ranking final in his career, proving what a menace he is when all the eyes of an arena are on him.
O’Sullivan back in 2014 was the last player to hold the Worlds and Masters’ titles at the same time and Zhao has as good a chance as anyone to repeat that feat.
The Masters Outright Betting Tips
Zhao Xintong 11/2 Betfred 1pt
Neil Robertson 9/1 SpreadEx/Star Sports 0.50pt ew
